Chapter 17: The Exposed Fangs
After finishing our meal, we began our search in earnest.
"This time, it’s a courier station in the city! The head of that station is on the list!"
Dang Hwa-rin was so excited, clutching the list created by No Cho-san as she skipped along.
I suppose she found the situation amusing, having confirmed that her own name was absent from the list of suspects.
I, too, felt less like a man tracking a thief and more like a guardian looking after an excited child.
"Here! It’s here!"
"Oh my! Young Miss! What brings you to our humble courier station?"
There was no such thing as a covert investigation.
Since Dang Hwa-rin knew that the person on the list wasn't the Thousand-Faced Fox, she was likely acting this way on purpose.
"Where is Head Courier Yeo?"
Dang Hwa-rin marched into the station with great momentum.
I followed slowly behind, expanding my senses.
'Two... no, three, I think.'
Dang Hwa-rin didn't seem to notice, but as expected, the eyes of the Mount Qingcheng Sect were following us.
That fellow Song something-or-other I met at the inn was a nobody, but the Mount Qingcheng Sect was a different story.
Regardless, they were one of the Nine Great Sects.
Since they had moved to get their hands on the daughter of the Tang Clan, they certainly wouldn't end things here.
A naive daughter of the Tang Clan might not realize it, but the Thousand-Faced Fox, who hadn't even left a trace until now, could not possibly be unaware of that fact.
However, it seemed that the fact that this was Chengdu—the Tang Clan’s front yard—and that I was with her, had lulled her into a false sense of security.
'That works in my favor.'
In the courtyard of the courier station, Dang Hwa-rin beckoned me to hurry.
I waved back to show I understood.
'The Tang Clan is quiet.'
That was strange.
The commotion at the inn had been settled quickly, but it still involved Dang Hwa-rin.
Naturally, it should have been reported to the Tang Clan, and their guards should have been mobilized by now, yet for some reason, not a single Tang Clan warrior was to be seen.
'Hmm. That means...'
It meant exactly that.
The Tang Clan’s forces were concentrated elsewhere, to the point where an unexpected situation couldn't be handled promptly.
And that, of course, meant...
'The Secret Cave of the Fighting God.'
The secret cave, the final retreat of the Fighting God.
The Map of Sambong Island that pointed to it.
It seemed their preparations to leave in search of the cave were reaching their final stages.
"Ugh. Another dead end."
Dang Hwa-rin walked back toward me, leaving the bewildered station staff behind.
The sun was already dipping below the horizon, the investigation having lasted since the morning.
Dang Hwa-rin looked up at me, her face bathed in the red glow of the sunset.
"Only one left now. The Ho Family Trading Company."
"Let’s go."
"Yes! We’ll definitely catch them this time!"
Dang Hwa-rin grabbed my hand firmly, then recoiled and let go, startled.
She then ran off ahead of me.
"Hurry! The sun is going to set!"
"I’m coming."
I smiled and quickened my pace.
The eyes of the Mount Qingcheng Sect followed cautiously behind.
* * *
The trading company was in the southern part of Chengdu.
As we headed south, the buildings looked increasingly old and dilapidated.
It seemed we were near the slums.
*Thud. Thud. Thud.*
The ground was pitted with holes, and the walls along the road were cracked, looking as if they could collapse at any moment.
Children in patched clothes ran about, and mothers beckoned them inside. Smoke from dinner fires rose from chimneys here and there.
White smoke spreading over the red sunset.
It was a scene of brief respite amidst a weary life.
"Hmm. I didn't know there was a trading company like this in Chengdu."
The Ho Family Trading Company was located in one of those alleys.
The door was open, and there was no one guarding it. Dang Hwa-rin tilted her head in confusion as she stood before it.
Just then, a man with a goat beard and a swollen cheek emerged from inside.
"Ah! That must be someone from the trading company."
"Eh? Who are you... Gasp! Y-Young Miss Tang! Gasp! Y-y-you!!!"
The man with the goat beard was far more shocked to see me than he was to see Dang Hwa-rin.
He was the same fellow who had tried to scam me in front of the city gate yesterday, only to get slapped across the cheek.
"Huh? You two. Do you know each other?"
"Don't you know, Young Miss? This man here is said to trade with the Tang Clan often."
"Really? Hmm. Why don't I recognize him? I’m sorry. What is your name?"
"N-no! I have committed a crime worthy of death! Yes! Please, kill me! A-ah, no! Please, spare me!"
"Pardon?"
Suddenly, the man with the goat beard prostrated himself on the ground.
Dang Hwa-rin looked at me with an expression that asked what was wrong with this madman.
I chuckled and shrugged my shoulders.
"Excuse me. Is there a manager named Yu Dae-gon in the trading company?"
"Y-yes? Yes?"
The goat-bearded man looked up cautiously.
"Manager Yu Dae-gon. Is he here?"
"Ah! You mean Manager Yu? He is! He is our trading company's manager! Yes!"
"Is he inside? I’d like to meet him."
"Ah! Manager Yu left around lunchtime, saying he had business at home... May I ask why you are looking for him...?"
"Hmm. Went home, did he..."
Dang Hwa-rin’s eyes sparkled as she met my gaze.
The mischievous glint in her eyes suggested she was convinced this man was the Thousand-Faced Fox.
I grinned and looked down at the goat-bearded man.
"Where is his house?"
"Uh... if you go further south from here, there is a place called Thousand Autumn Cliff next to the Min River! His house is around there! Yes!"
Dang Hwa-rin, who had been listening, tilted her head.
"He lives near Thousand Autumn Cliff? That’s strange. People don't even go near there because they say it’s haunted."
"Ha. Ha. Ha. Indeed, that is so. Manager Yu is a bit of an eccentric."
I had asked No Cho-san to ensure the last person we searched for would have a trail leading to the outskirts of Chengdu. It seemed the person who received that order was this goat-bearded man and the manager named Yu.
Dang Hwa-rin smiled brightly and turned around.
"We should go find him, shouldn't we?"
"Of course. But it looks like it’s quite a distance. Tell me, can you lend us two horses?"
"Yes? H-horses, you say?"
"Why? Is it difficult? If so, I will buy them for one gold piece. Since Young Miss Tang is here, I would appreciate it if you, being on good terms with the Tang Clan, could accommodate us."
"O-of course! Of course! I will bring two horses immediately! Please, wait a moment!"
The goat-bearded man scurried inside as if his tail were on fire.
Dang Hwa-rin watched him go, looking blank.
"Why is he acting like that?"
"I wonder."
A short while later, we were riding horses toward Thousand Autumn Cliff.
* * *
*Clip-clop. Clip-clop. Clip-clop.*
*Neighhh!!*
By the time we arrived at Thousand Autumn Cliff, the moon and stars were beginning to appear in the sky. It was that subtle moment when the sun and moon crossed paths.
At this impossibly short time of day, we dismounted and looked at the dilapidated thatched cottage.
"People live in a place like this? It looks like it would be haunted."
"If the goat-bearded man is to be believed, this seems to be the place."
"Hoho! Goat-bearded man? Now that you mention it, he really did look like a goat."
I chuckled and approached the cottage.
I expanded my senses. There was no particular presence to be felt.
Neither the manager nor the pursuers from the Mount Qingcheng Sect.
'I need to stall for time.'
Since I had been following them cautiously, it seemed they needed more time.
It wasn't desirable to make an enemy of the Mount Qingcheng Sect, but considering the Secret Cave of the Fighting God and future events, wouldn't it be a greater benefit to have Dang Hwa-rin owe me a favor?
While I was organizing the situation ahead, Dang Hwa-rin searched the inside and surroundings of the cottage.
"Warrior Jang! Over here! There are footprints! They lead toward the cliff!"
This, too, was likely No Cho-san’s handiwork.
This cottage was already in a remote enough place, but it seemed they had laid out even more definitive bait.
However, it was still too early to catch the fish.
"I think we should examine the inside of the cottage first."
"What? What if the Thousand-Faced Fox escapes while we do that?"
"She might have hidden the treasure inside the cottage, you never know."
"Hmm... I suppose so. Well, fine! Let’s look together!"
Dang Hwa-rin smiled and approached me.
She knew better than anyone that the tracks leading toward the cliff were not those of the Thousand-Faced Fox.
*Creeeak.*
And so, we opened the door, which looked as if it would fall apart at any moment, and stepped inside.
Dust billowed up. The walls were cracked, and the ceiling was full of cobwebs. The floor had even caved in, making it hard to believe anyone had ever lived there.
"Cough! Cough! I don't think this is it."
"Hmm. It seems so. Let’s head out for now."
We stepped out of the cottage.
By now, the western sky was exhaling its last breath of red light.
In its place, a round moon was looking down upon us.
"Then what are these tracks? Someone definitely came and went."
"Hmm..."
I took on the appearance of someone deep in thought, holding my chin, while expanding my senses to the limit.
In the distance, several presences were rapidly approaching.
'They’re coming now.'
I looked at Dang Hwa-rin with a sparkle in my eyes.
"Let’s follow the tracks for now. There might be something there."
"Yes! I think so too!"
We began to run toward the cliff.
* * *
*Whoosh!*
"Whoa!"
It wasn't a particularly high cliff, but a frigid river breeze surged upward from below like a dragon rising to the heavens.
As Dang Hwa-rin leaned over to peer down, her hair fluttered wildly toward the sky.
"Ugh... doesn't this feel a bit eerie?"
Dang Hwa-rin wrapped her arms around herself and glanced nervously around.
Even though she had mastered martial arts, she was still a woman at heart.
"It does have the atmosphere of a place where ghosts might appear."
"Right? It’s strange, I keep getting goosebumps. They say a lot of people have committed suicide here. That’s why no one comes by. Maybe it’s because the place is haunted."
"Don't worry. If you get possessed by a ghost, I’ll save you."
"Oh my! Really? Hehe! You’re so reliable. But what if you’re the one who gets possessed, Mr. Jang?"
"Then I suppose I’ll have no choice but to grab you and jump off together."
"What are you saying! I plan to live a long life! I’m going to get married, have beautiful babies, and live happily!"
Dang Hwa-rin’s smile, reflected in the moonlight, was refreshing.
I had seen this face just last night, but had I grown fond of her in the span of a single day?
It felt different from yesterday.
"If it’s you, Miss Dang, I’m sure that’s possible."
I nodded with a smile. Dang Hwa-rin beamed and turned her gaze toward the river.
The moon and stars twinkled as they flowed across the dark blue water.
In a way, we had completely wasted the day, but neither she nor I cared in the slightest.
We simply stood at the edge of the cliff, laughing and chatting as if we were old friends.
And then, finally.
The ones we were waiting for arrived.
"Tsk. To think the young lady of the Tang Clan would be giggling with a strange man. How utterly frivolous."
A voice rang out suddenly.
Dang Hwa-rin’s bright face transformed into that of a demon in an instant.
Her head turned slowly.
I followed her lead and turned as well.
On the path leading up to the cliff, ten men stood in a line, blocking the way.
Every one of them was dressed in blue.
It was the Mount Qingcheng Sect.
"I was being nice to you, you f*cker. Song Baek-hwi. You son of a b*tch. Do you really want to die that badly?"
Dang Hwa-rin bared her fangs.
0 Comments